Telephone call apparatus



Fell 25, 1936. J. WsEl=avAr-1ro|\1 ET AL TELEPHONE CALL APPARATUS Filed April 4, 1954 Cf fev re Y1 07 d 7n. Cnen/IORS Feb- 25, 935 J. sERvANToN ET A1.

TELEPHONE CALL APPARATUS Filed April 4, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 25, 1936- J. sERvANToN ET AL 2,032,229

TELLEPHDNE -CALL APPARATUS Filed. April 4, 1934 5 Sheets-She'et '3 oYL Feb. 193e.

J-. SERS/ANTON Er AL TELEPHONE CALL APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 4, @934 s N l @www 4,:

Feb. 25, 1936. 1 SERVANTON ET AL 2,032,229

TELEPHONE CALL APPARATUS FiledA April 4, 1954 5 sheets-sheet 1 H ven/Tof? 5' Patented Feb. 25, 19364 PATENT OFFICE TELEPHONE CALL APPARATUS `iacques Servanton and Jean Marie Consal, Paris, France Application April 4, 1934, Serial No. 718,986

In F

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to call apparatus for automatic telephone systems, of the type in which the successive openings vand closings of an electric contact send, into-the telephone line, several sets of impulses separated by intervals of rest, each set of impulses corresponding to a figure or a letter forming part of the call. In apparatus of this class, the successive openings and closings of the electric contact vare obtained by means of a pawl cooperatingwith bars whose position is adjustable, these bars being vequal in number to the characters of the call indication; each bar comprises several sections which are toothed in a different manner', and the wholeset of bars is movable transversely with reference to the said pawl. l

'I'he invention has for its object a call apparatus for automatic telephone systems, which is chiefly characterized by the fact that itcom- 20 prises a pawl-carrying slide adapted for displacement opposite sets of bars which are adjustable in position and comprise elements or sections whose outline depends upon the character represented by each of said elements; the pawl or pawls carried by the said slide cooperate successively with such elements in order to effect the successive openings and closings of an elec- .tric contact.

According to the invention, the apparatus com- 30 prises two independent sets of bars which permit composing two call indications, a pawl mounted on the pawl-carrying slide being employed for each of these two sets.

Further characteristics will be specified in the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, which are given solely byway of example:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus constructed in conformity to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4, of the internal mechanism of the apparatus.'4

' Fig. 3 is a plan view of this mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a view of one end of the apparatus, with partial removal of a. side-plate.

Fig. 5 is a view of the other end of the apparatus.

' Fig. 6 represents the arrangement of the elecrance November 24, 1933 device for adjusting the rack of the pawl-carrying slide.

Fig. 11 is a view, similar to Fig. 8, of a modification.

Iig. 12 is a view in side elevation, of a device 5 for holding the elements ofthe call indication in the desired position during the movements oi.' the pawl-carrying slide.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view, on a very large scale, of a pawl pertaining to the slide, with a device for guiding the said pawl.

:Fig. 14 is a. view, in side elevation of a modification of the apparatus represented in Figs. 2 to 5.

Fig. 15 is a view, similar to Fig. 14 of another l5 modification.

Fig. 16 represents, in perspective, another example of execution of the call apparatus according to the invention.

In the example of execution represented in Figs. 20 1 to 5, the apparatus comprises bars I, equal in number to the characters of the call indication (seven in the example represented), which are parallel with one another and are mounted in such manner that they may be moved lengthwise. Thus each of the bars I is slidable on a guide 2 secured at each end to two respective plates 3 which are mounted on the cross-pieces 4 of two side-plates 5 and 6 carrying the whole of the mechanism.

Each of the bars I is provided, on its lower face, with elements or sections 1, each representing a different character which is indicated on the upper face of the bar. According to the position of thislatter, the character corresponding to this position Will appear in an opening 8 formed in the upper wall of a case 9 containing the whole apparatus. A

In the example shown in Fig. 2, the elements 'I have a smooth surface, the length of which varies 40 according to the characters which they represent (this length being counted transversely with reference to the bar). A lever III is secured to each bar I in order to slide this latter and to bring a chosen element 'l upon a given transverse line 45 X-X. The said levers traverse the upper wall of the case 8 through a slot II formed in said wall. The characters corresponding to each position of the bar I and lever III for which a given element 'I is located on the line X--X are in- 50 scribed upon the upper wall of the case 8 along the slot II.

A suitable device serves to hold the bar I exactly in the position in which one of its elements 'I is located on the line X-X. In the example 55 Theaforesaid arrangement or the bars I thus permits to bring upon the transverse line X-X the element 1l of each bar which corresponds to a givencharacter in the call indieation, and hence this indication may be composed once for all;`

the call signal can be sent into the telephone line as many times as may be necessary, by using an automatic mechanism (to be further described) which may be caused to traverse all said bars along the line X--X, as many times as niay be desired, to induce signal impulses.

In the example represented in Figs. 1 to 5, and in the corresponding detail views, the apparatus is further provided with a second device comprising elements 1 which form cali indications and may be traversed by a suitable mechanism in order to send into the telephone line the corresponding call signals. This second'device comprises a drum I5 whose axis is parallel with the contact line X-X, and. which carries at the periphery longitudinal bars I6, each of which represents a. determined. call indication. On the outer edge of each bar I6 are formed elements 1, whose number corresponds to that of the characters of the call indication represented by the corresponding bar, the length of each element Y being the one which corresponds to of the sign which it represents.

The shaft I1 of the drum i;- journaied in the end-plates 5-8 of the frame, and on said shaft is mounted a gear wheel I8 whose rotation is effected, 'from a shaft I8, by means of reduction i the rotation of the shaft I9, this pointer will move along the slot 23 above a table situated adjacent the said slot. call indications represented by the bars I6 of the drum I5, er preferably, the names of the subscribers corresponding to such call indications. The speed reduction of the gearing is so selectee. that when a bar I6 comes under the ccn- 'tact iine X-X, the pointer 24 shows the name of the subscriber corresponding to the call indieation represented by the said bar. y

Obviously, the aforesaid reading device may be replaced by any equivalent device, and for instance by a drumset in rotation by the shaft I9 and mounted under an opening in the case 9, the subscribers' names or the call indi-cations bej ing inscribed uponthe surface of said drum.

The holding of the drum I5 in eac'n of its positions for which a bar I6 is situated under the contact line X-X,' is assured by a roller 25 (Fig. 5) which is mounted'cn a spring strip 2,6 adjustable in position, and which is in contact with the teeth of the gear wheel I8.

A single mechanism is employed foi-'traversing the bars I or one of the bars I6 of the drum I5,

at will. This device essentially consists of a contact slide 21 moving in either direction along the line X--X. For this purpose, the slide 21 may be This table carries the aosaeao mounted on a shaft 2,8 by any suitable means in -order that the rotation of `this shaft cause the displacement of the slide. For example, the shaft 42l! may be threaded, and the slide 21 screwed t'o tained in bored recess-asin the slide 21. The said slide is 4further slidable on a guide bar 3l, parallel to the shaft 28.

The shaft 28 of the contactslide is connected,

by a set of 4gearing 32, to a toothed sector 33, secured, as to retation,'to a hand-crank 34 for displacing the slide 21 from right to left (Fig. 2).,v

inFig. 2),;y and thus causes it to effect its operative stroke or its return stroke.

A governor 31, of any suitable type, is cennected with the shaft 28 of the slide by means of gearing 38 and a ratchet wheel 39 cooperating with apawl 40 mounted on a disc 4I adapted to rotate together with the shaft 28. This connection is carried out in such way thatJ the shaft 28 willonly rotate the governor 31 during the operative stroke of the slide 21. Thus during the return stroke, the slide 21 will move at a' determined uniform speed in order that the sending of the impulses of current into the telephone line will Abe effected at the proper rate; on the contrary, the inoperative stroke of the slide may be effected very rapidly by turning the crank 34.

The slide v21 carries the contact-pieces and other devices for the opening and closing of the electric circuit in order to send current impulses into the telephone line. These devices comprise (Figs. 6 to 8), a cam 42, preferably of insulating material, keyed to an axle 43 situated on the slide 21. To the said axle is also keyed a pinion 44 forming part of a set of reduction gearing' 45 cooperating with a rack 46, parallel to the shaft 28. Thus the movementof the slide along this which is vscrewed a regulating screw 48 passing through the end-plate 5. A'spring 49, subject to` compression, is in contact at one end with thisend-plate and at the other end with the projection 41.

The slide 21 further carries two pairs of elastic contact members --IL 5I, which are acted upon by the cam 42 during its rotation. One of these pairs of contact members cooperates with the bars I., and the other with the bars I6 of the drum I5.

Each pair of contact members consists of two spring strips 50 and 5I which are suitably insulated and are secured at one end to the slide 21. These twcstrips are provided with hooks 52, or with other suitable parts, for attaching the electric wires making the connection. 'Ihe strip 5I with the said strip 50, and thus, due to the elas-` 'way as to oscillate in a vertical plane passing by a rotation on its pivoting axis 55, thus avoidvthrough the line X--X. 'I'he said pawl carries a lateral arm or journal 56, of insulating material, which'bears against the strip 5| when the pawl 54- turns in the direction of the arrow f1 (Fig. 7). The pointed end of the pawl 54, which makes contact with the elements 1 of the bars I (or of the drum I5 in the case of a lower pawl), is rounded on one side according to ab in such 'manner that during the movement of the slide 21 in the direction of the arrow F (inoperative stroke) the strip 50 will remain separated from the cam 42, even-during the movement of the pawl against the elements 1. On the other hand, the outer end of the pawl is beveled at c and d on both of its lateral faces and thus any improper operation of the bars I or of the drum I5, when the pawl 54 is adjacent one of these bars, or adjacent the. drum I5, will lower the said pawl ing all damageto the parts in contact.

In order to make use of either of the pairs of contact members SII-5I, according as it is desired to employ the call indications located on the drum I5, or those which consist of the bars I, the apparatus is provided with areversing device 51 (Figs. 1 and 6) which is mounted in the electric circuit for inserting in the circuit, at will, either of the two pairs of 'contact-pieces 5th-5I. This reversing device may be replaced by any other equivalent device, for instance an arrangement of two plug contacts.

The apparatus is 'further provided with a device of the usual kind for short-circuiting the listoning devices which areconnected at 55. This device comprises-contactpieces mounted on con y ducting spring strips 59 which are suitably insulated. One of these strips 59 carries a stud ,55, in contact with a lever 6I upon which the sector -33 is caused to bear, against the action of a spring 64,' when the hand-crank 34 is in the idle position (Fig. 4).

On the otherv hand, av disappearing stop 52 (Fig. 1) is employed in order to limit the movement oct' the slide 21 in the case in which it is simply necessary to traversethe rst bars VI on the right-hand side. The said stop 62 is connected with a controlling key 63 extending above the upper part of the case 9.

The operation of the aforesaid apparatus is as follows.

resented in Figs. 2' and 3, the chosen telephone call indication is composed by moving the bars I so that the lever I of each bar will be brought before the corresponding character, which also appears inthe opening 8, the reversing device'51 is placed in the position corresponding to the placing of the bars I in service. 'I'he call number or indication' being thus composed, the operator presses upon the crank 34 in order to turn it in the direction of the arrow f2 (Fig. 4) and this has the effect of displacing the slide 21 from right to vleft (arrowF, as shown in Figure '1, iand in Figs. 2 and 3). This displacement is very rapid, since the pawl slides upon the ratchet wheel 39, and thus 'the governor 31 is not actuated. The resistance v offered to such displacements is reduced to the friction; as the end of each pawl 54 is rounded at a.b,these pawls disappear by pivoting in the contrary direction to the arrow f1 (Figs. '1) when they move before the elements 1 of the bars I and of the drum I5, and this reduces the friction and the Wear.

The pawls 54 being thus moved aside, the spring strips 50 are separated from the cam 42, and hence the rotation of this latter .will have no action upon the contact-pieces SI2-5I.

The slide 21 being at the end of its left-hand stroke, the operator releases the crank 34, and as yit is then returned by the spring 35, it assumes the idle position. In this return movement, the shaft 28 rotates in the contrary direction to the preceding and thus causes the displacement of the' slide 21 from left to right. On the other hand. this shaft, by means of the pawl 40, moves the ratchet wheel 39 and hence the governor 31, so that the return movement of the slide 21 is effected at a determined uniform speed.

vDuring this return movement, the upper pawl 54 makes contact successively with the elements 1 ofthe bars I situated along the line X-X. When the pawl meets with one of these elements, it will pivot in the direction of the arrow f1 (Figure 7, and the journal 55 makes contact with the spring strip 5I, thus permitting the two strips 5l and 5I to come near the cam 42. The device consisting of the pawl 54 and the said strips remains4 in this position as long as the pawl is in contact with the element 1.

The cam 42, which is caused to rotate, during the ldisplacement of the slide 21, by the rack and the gearing 44-45, will thus periodically raise the strip 5l, thus causing openings and closings of the contact at -5I. The number of openings and closings thus effected, and hence the number of impulses sent into the telephone line, will be evidently proportional to the length of the element 1 against which the pawl 54 is caused to bear. With the form of cam represented in the drawings, during the movement of the pawl 54 under an element 1 which occupies the whole width of the bar I, said cam will make ve complete revolutions, and hence will effect ten breaks of the current.

When the pawl 54 leaves the element1, it ren turns to the idle position under the action of lthe spring strip 5| whichseparates the strip 55 from the cam 42, and thus the rotation of said cam causes no break of the circuit, until the pawl `54 meets the element 1 of the next bar. As the pawl 54 thus traverses all the' bars I in succession, the impulses of current which correspond to the characters of the call indication, preliminarily composed, are sent successively into the telephone line. With the apparatus in the idle position, as 4rep- It should be observed that during the whole of the displacement of the slide 21 in one or the other direction, the listening devices are shortcircuited. In fact, when the operating crank 34 is lowered, the lever 5I urged by the compression spring 54, separates from the stud 50, and the spring strips 53 make contact with one another. It is only at the end of the return stroke ofthe slide 21, that the sector 33 bears upon the lever 5I, thus separating the strips 59.

y In the case in which the call indication which itis desired to send into the telephone line is one of those represented by the. bars I5 of the drum I5, the operator turns the reversing device. 51 in order to bring it into the corresponding position (represented in the diagram, Fig. 6).l 75

He turns the shafty I9 by means of the crank 2| in order to' bring the pointer adjacent the name of the subscriber which is to be called, and this has at the same time the effect of turning the drum I5 and of bringing, next the lower pawl 54 of the slide 21, the bar I6 corresponding 'to the desired call indication. In order to send out the call, it is simply necessary to act, as before, upon the lever 34. f l

The call apparatus above described may comprise various accessory arrangements. Thus it is possible to provide an arrangement of the'parts such that this will Vpermit to compose the call indication and to eifectrthe idle stroke or inoperative stroke of the slide 21, but preventing the return stroke of the said slide, and conse' quently the sending of the call indication, before the listening devices have been removed from their hooks. For example, the disc 39 (Fig. .2), which rotates together with the driving shaft of the slide 21, comprises at its periphery a set-of teeth adapted to be engaged by the end of a lever 66 connected with the hook or like support (not shown) of the listening devices. A spring (notv shown) tends to separate the lever 66 from the teeth,65. The position of this lever and the inclination of the teeth are such that they permit o the rotation of the disc 39 when the slide 21 moves from right to left and they counteract the movement in the other direction. Thus the return' of the `,slide `will not take place except when the listening devices are unhooked, as the lever '96 is then separated from the teeth 65 by the re'- action spring, and thus releases the disc 39.

In Fig. 11 is represented a modification of the arrangement for moving the -slide 21. In this example of execution,- the shaft 28 of, the slide vhasa longitudinal slot 61 in which is engaged the-end of a screw 68, screwed into a collar 99 vsecured to a bevel gear wheel 19. 'This wheel 19 engages a second gear wheel 1I keyed to a shaft 12 which is mounted on the slide and to which is also keyed one of the wheels of the set of gearing 45.

It is observed that the movement of rotation imparted to the shaft 28by the lever 34 is transmitted to the bevel wheel 'I9 and thence to the gearing 45, thus effecting the displacement of this set of gearing, and hence, of the slide car,

rying this latter, lalong the rack 44.

A device may be provided for automatically assuring the locking of the bars ,I and of the drum I5 when the contact slide 21 is displaced in either direction, and for releasing lthe said bars and drum when the slide has 4assumed the idle position. Such a device is shown in Fig. 12. This device comprises two levers 13 and 14, pivoted at 15 and 16; their free ends, forming hooks, are adapted for engagement between two bars I9 of the drum I5, for the lever 14, and between two elements -1 of the .bars I, for the lever v13.

This last-mentioned lever has a sufiicient length, measured on its pivot axis, in order to vhold at the same time all of the'bars I. The levers 13 and 14 are connected by links 11 and a rod 18 with a lever 5I actuated by the sector 33. It will` thus be readily understood .that when the slide 21 is in the idle position (-the sector 33 then having the position represented in Fig. 12) the bars I and the drum I5 are released. When the o'perator acts upon the operating lever 34 in order to displace the slide 21, the sector 39 becomes separated from the lever 9| which then moves in the direction of the arrow f3 under theaction of the compression spring 64 and eifects the simultaneous locking of the bars I and the drum I5. This prevents all improper operation during the transmission of the call indication.

However, if the apparatus is not provided with adevice for locking thebars I and the drum I9, s

represented in Fig. 14, this support consists of 15 a plate upon which the bars I8 are maintained by any 'suitable means. This plate 89 has upon its lower face a transverse rack 9| cooperating 'with a pinion 82 keyed to the shaft I1.

The drum I5 may alsobe replaced by a sec- 20 ond set of bars 83 (Fig. 1,5) constructed in a manner analogous to the first-mentioned set of bars I, and also permitting to compose a call indication. Each of the bars 83 is also provided with an operating lever 84. The use of two sets 25 of bars isy particularly advantageous, asit pro-v vides for the preliminary composing of two call indications, and forthe transmission, at will, of one or the other of these indications, without requiring -to perform any other accessory opera- 30 tion 85 which will bear against the upperface 35 of a fixed guiding bar 86 parallel to the shaft '|99 of the said slide. This slide is also vprovided with a second projection 81 which will be'ar against the lower face of the guide bar 89 -when` l the slide turns upon the shaft |98 in the direc- 40 tion ofthe arrow f4.

On the slide |91 is pivotally mountedat 99 a pawl 89, which is extended, on the other side of its pivoting axle, by an arm 99carrying at its outer end a roller 9|. ySaid Aroller rests upon a 45 strip 92, parallel to the shaft |99 and pivotally mounted on an axle 93 having the same direction as the said shaft. The strip 92- rests upon a. stud 94 mounted on the A.end `of a spring strip 95 which is pivoted at the other end to a iixed axle 99. 'I'he 50 strip 95 carries a contact-piece 91 cooperating with al like piece 98 mounted on a secondspring strip 99 which is secured at its other end vat |99. Bars f|0|, equal in number to the characters of the call indications, are slidable on guides |92 55 and are provided with toothed elements or sections |93, which are parallel to the shaft |99 of the-slide o1-tand will cocperate.witn the-pewl 10s..,

The number of teeth of each element or section depends upon the character which it represents. 80

The shaft |98 is connected, in the same manner' as in the example shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with a lever |94' whose stroke can be limited by a disappearing' stop |95. A spring |95 assures thereturn of lthe parts to the idle position. A governor 85 port I I5 of the listening devices and subjected to 75 Due to this arrangement, an improper lo On the other hand, the ref' 70 Sepathe setting stroke or inoperative stroke of the slide 01, the shaft |08 turns in the direction of the arrow f4 'and thus rotates the said slide until the projection 81 makes contact with the lower face of the guide bar 86. Due to this pivoting of the slide, the pawl 89 is entirely released from the bars |0|, and the roller 9| has now left the strip 92. The slide |01 will thus move, while remaining in this angular position, as far as the end of the stroke (to the leflt of Fig. 16) and thus the contact at `91--98 will notbe affected by this displacement of the slide, and will remain closed.

When the listening devices are unhcoked, the lever ||2 rises and thus releases the gear wheel I I3, which permits the return of the various parts to their idleposition under the action of the spring |05.

At the beginning of the return movement, the shaft-|08 turns in the contrary direction to the arrow f.' and it thus pivots the slide |01 in the same direction until the projection makes contact with the upper face of the guide bar 86. After this time, the rotation of the shaft |00 causes the slide |01 to move from left to right, and the pawl 89 makes contact successively with the teeth |03 of the bars IUI. Each time that it passes beforea tooth, the pawl 89 descends, and the roller 9| is also lowered, thus pivoting the strip 92 and breaking the contact at 81--98.

Having now described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

v1. lIn an automatic signal apparatus, two series oi' call mechanism, one series having signals composed at the moment of use, the other having call signals prepared in advance, all of the signals heingngmposed along parallel lines, a single slide mounted for reciprocal movement parallel to the signals and carrying two pawls, onepawl acting on the signals prepared in advance and the other pawl acting on the signals composed at the moment of use, means for causing' unrestricted movement of the slide in one direction and automatic means for causing controlled movement of the slide at constant speed in the opposite direction.

2. In an automatic signal apparatus, two seriesof call mechanisms, one-series having signals composed at the moment of use, the other having call signals prepared in` advance, all of the signals being composedalong parallel lines, a single slide mounted for reciprocal movement parallel to the signals and carrying two pawls, one Apavvl acting on the signals prepared in 4advance and the other pawl acting on the signals composed at the moment of use, means for causing unrestricted movement of the slide in one direction and automatic means for causing controlled movement of the slide at constant speed in the opposite vdirection and means for selectivelyenergizing the call mechanisms.

3. In an automatic signal apparatus, a set' of transversely movable longitudinally spaced bars, pawl actuating signal elements carried by the bars, a drum rotatably' mounted in longitudinal alignment with the set of bars, a series of elongated circumferentially spaced strips carried on the surface of the drum and each formed with different predetermined pawl actuating signal elements, a slide mounted for longitudinal reciprocation between the set of bars and the drum,

pair of contact breakers carried by the slide, a

pair ofpawls also carried by the slide for coacting with the contact breakers and respectively with the pawl actuating signal elements on the bars A and on the strips.

4. In an automatic signal apparatus, a set of transversely movable longitudinally spaced bars, pawl actuating signal elements carried by the bars, a drum rotatably mounted in longitudinal alignment with the set of bars, a series of elongated circumferentially spaced strips carried on.

bars and on the strips and means for selectively energizing the contact breakers.

5. In an automatic signal apparatus, al frame. .a shaft journaled in the frame, o sut oi' bars eqiu distant from the shaft, spaced longitudinally of the shaft and mounted for longitudinal reciprn.. 'en

cation in a direction transverse to the axis of the shaft, a series of pawl actuating signal element., carried by each bar. a drum journaled in the` frame with its axis parallel to the axis of the shaft, a series of elongated circumferentially zz.

spaced strips on the surface of the drum and each formed with different predetermined pawl actuating signal elements, a slide mounted on the shaft for longitudinal reciprocation between the sets of bars and the drum, a pair of contact breakers carried by the slide, a pair of pawls carried by the slide for coacting with the contact breakers and, respectively, with the pawl actuating signal elements on the bars and on the strips.

6. In an automatic signal apparatus, a frame, a shaft journaled in the frame, a set of bars equidistant from the shaft, spaced longitudinally of the shaft and mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in a direction transverse to the axis of the shaft, a series of pawl actuating signal elements carried by each bar, a drum journaled in the frame with its axis parallel to the axis of the shaft, a series of elongated circumferentially spaced strips on the surface of the drum and each formed with different predetermined pawl actuating signal elements, aslide mounted on the shaft for longitudinal reciprocation between the sets of bars and the drum. a pair of contact 1breakers carried by the slide, a pair of pawls carried by the slide for coacting with the contact breakers and, respectively, with the pawl actuating signal elements on the bars and on the strips and means for selectively energizing the contact breakers.

7. In an automatic signal apparatus; two series of call'mechanisms one series composed of a plurality of relatively movable bars having spaced i pawl actuating signal elements whose outline depends upon the character represented by each element, which elements may be arranged in a predetermined line in different sequences by relative movement of the bars; the other series composed of strips each having a predetermined different series of pawl actuating signal elements constituting a complete signal, said strips being selecstrips.

tively movable into*Y spaced alignment with the predeterminedline'dot elements on the Ilbars; a

depends upon the character-represented byY each element, which elements Vmay be jrrangedin a predetermined line in different sequences by relative movement of the barsthe other series composed of strips each having a predetermined different series of pawl actuating signal elements constituting a complete signal, said strips being selectivelyl-movabie into spaced alignment with the predeterminedY line of elements on the bars;

anisms; a pair of lontact breakers carried by the' slide; a pair of psgwls on the slide coacting with the .respective contact breakers and respectively .with the elements on the bars and 'strips and means for-causing-unrestricted movement -of the slide in eine direction and automatic means :for causing controlled'movement of the slide at constant speedin the opposite direction.

` e 9.- In an automatic signal apparatus; turcl series call' mechanisms; one ,series composed of a fplurality ofi relatively movable bars having spaced f. "pawl actuating .signal elements whose outline de- -fpends upon'the character representcdibg-1 each c-elementfAvhich elements-may berarran'ged in a .predetermined line in different seg'iences by rela- --,.tive movement of the bars; the other seriescomposed of Vstrips each having a predetermined diiferent 4series .of pawl'actuating gnal elements icons'tituting a complete signalfsidstrips being selectively'movable-'into spaced alignment with ythe predetermined line -o elements on the` bars;

@a slide mountedwto reciprocate between the mechanismsyapair of ccntactg'breakers carried by the slide; a pairoi,y pawls 1on'the slide' coacting with 1 the respective contact bakers -and respectively :with the elemental-pn the VbaraA and strips; means for causing.vunrestrictedY movement of the slide in one Ydirectilzmf;V automatic means for causing controlled;movement-of thev` slide at constant speed-in'zthe-opposite direction and means for selectively energizing the call i 10. In an automatic signal apparatus, eirset of transversely movable longitudinally spaced bars, pawl actuating signal elements carried by the bars, a drum rotatably mountedrin longitudinal alignment with the set of bars, al: series of elongated circumierentially spaced strips carried on the surface of the drum and each formed-with different predetermined pawl actuating signal elements, a slide mountedfior longitudinal reciprocation between the bersand the drum and carrying V*a pair of paw'is, a cam mounted for revoluble movement between the pawls and a pair of contact breakers adapted to be moved by the pawls into coacting engagement with the cam upon engagement of the pawls with the signal elevments.

1 1. In an automatic signal apparatus, a set of transversely 'jmovable longitudinally spaced bars, pawl actuating signal elements carried by the bars, a rotatably mounted in longitudinal :alignment with the set 'of bars, a series of elongated circumferentially spaced strips carried en the surface of the -and each formed with dierent predetermined pawl actuating sig-Y:

nal elements, a slide mountede'for longitudinal reciprocation between the bars and thefdim and jcarrylng a pair" ci pawls, a cam mounted for revolube movement between the pawls and a' pair Qof contact breal-:ers adapted to be moved by the jpawls: into coacting v,engagement with the cam upon engagement of the pawls with the" signal ele-f ments and means for selectively energizing the contact breakers.

12. In anautomatic signal apparatusfa set of VYtransversely movable longitudinally spaced bars.

pawl actuated signal elements carried bythe bars,

a drumeerotatably mounted in longitudinal alignment -with the set ofijrbars, a series-of elongated circumierentially*Y spaced stripscarried on the surface of the and each formed with JAQUEs snRvAN'ron.

JEAN MARIE coassiali..

t diierent 'predetermined pawl 'actuating signalA 

